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Graduate Student Researcher Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

... Title Graduate Student Assistant Academic Year Academic Year 2026-2027 Term or Semester All ... Review and provide reports on the latest research surrounding first-generation students in higher ...

... Title Graduate Student Assistant Academic Year Academic Year 2026-2027 Term or Semester All ... Review and provide reports on the latest research surrounding first-generation students in higher ...

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Showing results 1-20

Graduate Student Researcher information

See California salary details

$29.6K

$111.6K

$162.3K

How much do graduate student researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for graduate student researcher in California is $111,621.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,100.00 and $152,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a graduate student researcher?

A Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) is a graduate-level student, typically pursuing a master's or doctoral degree, who conducts academic research under the supervision of a faculty member or principal investigator. GSRs contribute to research projects in their field of study, assisting with experiments, data analysis, and scholarly publications. This position often provides valuable hands-on experience and may include financial support or tuition remission as part of a research assistantship. GSRs play a crucial role in advancing university research while gaining skills and expertise necessary for academic or professional careers.

What are some common challenges graduate student researchers face when balancing research and coursework?

Graduate Student Researchers often juggle multiple responsibilities, including conducting research, attending classes, and sometimes teaching or mentoring. Time management is a frequent challenge, as project deadlines and coursework can overlap. It's important to set clear priorities, communicate regularly with your advisor, and utilize university support resources to manage stress and workload effectively. Developing strong organizational skills early on can help you maintain a healthy balance and make steady progress towards your academic and research goals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a graduate student researcher, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Graduate Student Researcher, you need strong analytical thinking, research methodology knowledge, and typically enrollment in a relevant graduate program. Familiarity with data analysis software (such as SPSS, R, or Python), academic databases, and sometimes laboratory equipment is often required. Excellent written and verbal communication, time management, and collaboration skills help you excel in conducting and presenting research. These competencies ensure rigorous, impactful research and effective teamwork within academic or scientific environments.

What is the difference between Graduate Student Researcher vs Research Assistant?

AspectGraduate Student ResearcherResearch Assistant
Required CredentialsEnrolled graduate student, relevant courseworkUndergraduate or graduate student, sometimes with specific skills
Work EnvironmentAcademic labs, university settingsResearch labs, academic or industry settings
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutionsUniversities, research centers, industry
Common Search & ComparisonYesNo

In summary, a Graduate Student Researcher is typically a graduate student engaged in research projects within academic settings, often focusing on their thesis or dissertation work. A Research Assistant may be an undergraduate or graduate student assisting with research tasks but may have broader roles across various research environments. The key difference lies in the level of education and specific responsibilities.

What are good jobs for graduate student researchers?

Graduate student researchers often find employment in academic institutions, research labs, or industry R&D departments, where they can apply their specialized knowledge and research skills. Common roles include research assistant, lab technician, data analyst, or project coordinator, often requiring familiarity with tools like statistical software and adherence to project deadlines.
Infographic showing various Graduate Student Researcher job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 28% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 16% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,621 per year, or $53.7 per hour.

NASA Student Researcher

California State University

Turlock, CA • On-site

$18/hr

Part-time

Re-posted yesterday


California State University rating

7.7

Company rating: 7.7 out of 10

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Job description

NASA Student Researcher
Job no: 557833
Work type: Instructional Student Assistant
Location: Stanislaus - Turlock
Categories: Unit 11 - UAW - California Alliance of Academic Student Workers, Temporary, Part Time, Student Services, On-site (work in-person at business location)
Instructional Student Assistant Employment Opportunity
JOB DESCRIPTION:
***OPEN TO CURRENT STANISLAUS STATE STUDENTS, CURRENTLY ENROLLED OR ELIGIBILE TO ENROLL ONLY***
Summary/basic function: Student will participate in one or more NASA research projects on Atmospheric Physics working on instruments located at Stan State and atmospheric modeling with NASA Ames Research Center. The research focus on using ground-based data to evaluate atmospheric models in the Central Valley of California.
Wage/Salary: $18.00/HR
Hours per Week: 40
Location: Turlock Campus
# of Openings: 2
Expected Start Date: June 1, 2026
Expected End Date: August 14, 2026
Point of Contact Person: Dr. Wing To
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Undergraduate students must be registered/enrolled in a minimum of six (6) Fall/Spring units.
  • Post-baccalaureate students in a graduate program must be registered in a minimum of four (4) Fall/Spring units.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Atmospheric Physics and Chemistry knowledge.
  • Experience in programming languages such as C++ and Python.
  • Experience working in Linux operating systems and in cluster computing.
  • Experience working with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Google Earth Engine.

HOW TO APPLY & DEADLINE:
A complete application must include a resume, available work schedule and class schedule indicating required enrollment as per the Student Employment Policies (See https://www.csustan.edu/fa/unit-11-academic-student-employee-hiringinformation)
If you have any questions regarding this recruitment, please contact:
Dr. Wing To
Department of Physics
California State University, Stanislaus
One University Circle
Turlock, CA 95382
wto@csustan.edu
To apply for this position, please click the "Apply Now" button on this page.
CAMPUS & AREA:
California State University, Stanislaus serves the San Joaquin Valley and is a critical educational resource for a six-county region of approximately 1.5 million people. The University is fully committed to creating a culture of diversity and inclusion - one in which every person in the University community feels safe to express their views without fear of reprisal. Widely recognized for its quality academic programs, the University has 10 nationally accredited programs and 662 faculty members. 94 percent of full-time faculty holds doctorates or terminal degrees in their fields. The University offers 43 undergraduate majors, 16 master's programs, 7 post-graduate credentials, a doctorate in education and serves more than 10,000 students. New instructional facilities have been built for the unique pedagogy of professional programs, laboratory sciences and performing arts.
Stanislaus State continues to receive national recognition with its ranking as one of the best 384 colleges in the nation by The Princeton Review. The University was one of 12 public universities in the nation to be recognized by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for demonstrating exceptional performance in retention and graduation rates. In addition, U.S. News and World Report ranks Stanislaus State in its top 10 among public universities in the West, while Washington Monthly honored Stanislaus State as the West's No. 1 university for the money. Stanislaus State also is recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education.
CSU Stanislaus values shared governance: Handbook statement on shared governance
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The university is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, National origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status. You can learn more about federal equal employment opportunity protections by accessing the Department of Labor's notices: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf and http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/Supplement_English.pdf.
Individuals with disabling conditions who require accommodation during the recruitment process may contact the ADA Coordinator at (209) 667-3159.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. The CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. The CSU prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California.
CLERY ACT DISCLOSURE
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the annual security report (ASR), is now available for viewing at https://www.csustan.edu/epc/clery-safety-reports The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and sexual assault prevention information, and drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery Act crimes for Stanislaus State for the previous three years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the office of the Clery Director located at One University Circle, Turlock, CA 95382.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CLEARANCE NOTICE
The university requires a criminal and/or child abuse background check to be completed for many of its new employees, current employees seeking promotional or transfer opportunities, and current employees assigned new duties. Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position. Failure to consent to any background check will disqualify an applicant from further consideration. Additionally, an applicant who fails to provide the necessary information or who provides false or misleading information may also be disqualified from further consideration. Later discovery of false or misleading information related to the background check may result in the offer of employment being withdrawn or subject the employee to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Advertised: May 19 2026 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close:
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About California State University

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California State University, Fresno is one of 23 campuses in the California State University System. The University's mission is to boldly educate and empower students for success through our values of Discovery, Diversity and Distinction. The current student population is more than 25,000, including a large percentage of students with diverse and culturally rich backgrounds. The University serves the San Joaquin Valley while maintaining deep involvement with the state, nation, and across the globe.

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Headquarters location

Long Beach, CA, US